View source for Asansol Tatanagar Kharagpur line

{{short description|Railway route in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 28em
| name                            = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|50px]] Asansol–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line<br/>(including Adra–Bokaro Steel City, Purulia–Kotshila & Tatanagar–Badampahar branch lines)
| color                           = 800000
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 
| image                           = Adra asansol MEMU.JPG
| image_width                     = 350px
| caption                         = A [[MEMU]] train travelling on the bridge across [[Damodar River]]
| type                            = Rail line
| system                          = 
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = [[West Bengal]], [[Jharkhand]]
| start                           = {{stnlnk|Asansol}}
| end                             = [[Kharagpur Junction|Kharagpur]]
| stations                        = 
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 
| open                            = 1891 onwards
| close                           = 
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator                        = [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]]
| character                       = 
| depot                           = 
| stock                           = 
| linelength                      = 
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] 
| old_gauge                       = 
| minradius                       = 
| racksystem                      = 
| electrification                 = 1961–63 with 25 kV AC overhead line
| speed                           = 
| elevation                       = 
| website                         = 
| map                             = {{Asansol–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line|inline=1}}
| map_state                       = collapsed
}}
The '''Asansol–Adra–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line''' is  part of [[Howrah station|Howrah]] and eastern India's links with [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|Mumbai]] and [[Chennai Central|Chennai]]. It is also a major freight line for transporting iron ore, coal and steel products. This page includes the Adra–Bokaro Steel City branch line and Tatanagar–Badampahar branch lines.

==History==
The [[Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line]], a joint effort of [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]] and [[East Indian Railway Company]] came up in 1870.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html | title = IR History: Early Days – II| work = Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899)| access-date = 27 October 2012}}</ref> The [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] was formed in 1887 for the purpose of upgrading the [[Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway]] and then extending it via [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]] to [[Asansol Junction|Asansol]], in order to develop a shorter Howrah–Mumbai route than the one via Allahabad.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://railwaysofraj.blogspot.in/2011/08/number-1-down-mail.html |title = Number 1 Down Mail| publisher= Railways of the Raj| access-date = 19 February 2012}}</ref> The Bengal Nagpur Railway main line from Nagpur to {{stnlnk|Asansol}}, on the [[Howrah–Delhi main line]], was opened for goods traffic on 1 February 1891.<ref name=ser>{{cite web|url=http://www.ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1 |title=Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway |publisher=South Eastern Railway |access-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401151628/http://www.ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C1 |archive-date= 1 April 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> However, it was only after [[Kharagpur Junction|Kharagpur]] was linked from the west and the south that it was connected to Howrah in 1900.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web|last=R. P. Saxena|title=Indian Railway History Time line|url=http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm|work=Irse.bravehost.com|access-date=4 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229092028/http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm|archive-date=29 February 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The closing years of the 19th century and the opening years of the 20th century were momentous for the area. 800 miles of East Coast Railway was built and opened for traffic between 1893 and 1896. The most vital sections of Bengal Nagpur Railway, Sini–Kharagpur–Kolaghat and Kharagpur–Cuttack, were opened to traffic in 1898–99. The Purulia–Ranchi branch was opened for traffic on 15 November 1907. BNR lines were extended  to Gomoh, on EIR's main line, in 1907. The Mohuda–Chandrapura branch line was opened in 1913.<ref name=ser/>

A 40-mile branch line from Tatanagar to [[Gorumahisani]] was opened to traffic in 1911 mainly for transportation of iron ore.<ref name=ser/>

The Purulia–Ranchi line was opened as a narrow-gauge railway of BNR in 1907.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history3.html|title = IR History: Part - III (1900 - 1947) | publisher=IRFCA | access-date = 12 November 2012}}</ref>

===Railway reorganization===
The [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] was nationalized in 1944.<ref name=ser/>[[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]] was formed on 14 April 1952 with the portion of [[East Indian Railway Company]] east of [[Mughalsarai]] and the Bengal Nagpur Railway.<ref name=zones>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 21 November 2012}}</ref> In 1955, [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]] was carved out of Eastern Railway. It comprised lines mostly operated by BNR earlier.<ref name=zones/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history4.html |title = IR History: Part - IV (1947 - 1970)| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 21 November 2012}}</ref>

==Steel plants and freight traffic==
India's first integrated steel plant, [[Tata Steel]]'s plant at [[Jamshedpur]], became operational in 1908.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tatasteel.com/about-us/heritage/century-of-trust.asp | title = A Century of Trust | publisher = Tata Steel | access-date = 10 November 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121025180732/http://www.tatasteel.com/about-us/heritage/century-of-trust.asp | archive-date = 25 October 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>[[IISCO Steel Plant]] was established at [[Burnpur]] in 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sail.co.in/pnu.php?tag=iisco |title=IISCO Steel Plant |publisher=Steel Authority of India Limited |access-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107224109/http://www.sail.co.in/pnu.php?tag=iisco |archive-date= 7 November 2012 }}</ref>[[Steel Authority of India]]'s [[Durgapur Steel Plant]] was established in the late fifties,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sail.co.in/pnu.php?tag=durgapur |title=Durgapur Steel Plant |publisher=Steel Authority of India Limited |access-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107223624/http://www.sail.co.in/pnu.php?tag=durgapur |archive-date= 7 November 2012 }}</ref> and [[Bokaro Steel Plant]] became operational in the seventies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sail.co.in/pnu.php?tag=bokaro |title=Bokaro Steel Plant |publisher=Steel Authority of India Limited |access-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107223600/http://www.sail.co.in/pnu.php?tag=bokaro |archive-date= 7 November 2012 }}</ref>

Although the [[Asansol–Gaya section]] of [[Grand Chord]] and [[Bardhaman–Asansol section]] of [[Howrah–Delhi main line]] serves as the principal links for Jharia Coalfield and [[Raniganj Coalfield]], this line also links to both the coalfields. This railway line is also serving the upcoming Raghunathpur industrial area, situated near Adra in Purulia district. The new Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station (DVC) and ACC Cement Factory (Madhukunda) are a part of this.

With four steel plants served by these lines South Eastern Railway transports bulk of the raw materials like coal and iron ore used by the steel industry. It loaded 61.24 million tonnes during the period April to September 2012.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-10-04/news/34260157_1_freight-south-eastern-railway-reports |title = South Eastern Railway reports 2.34% growth in freight loading in April-September 2012| work= The Economic Times|date=4 October 2012| access-date = 10 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3795905.ece|title = Iron ore helps South Eastern Rly cross freight target| work=The Hindu Business Line, 19 August 2012| access-date = 10 November 2012}}</ref> Indian Railway handled 456 million tonnes of coal in 2011–12. It was the single largest item of freight traffic. It handled 104.71 million tonnes of iron ore in 2011–12.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/coal-continues-to-top-railways-freight-list/article3401064.ece|title = Coal continues to top Railway's freight list|last=Sanyal |first=Santanu | work=The Hindu Business Line, 9 May 2012| access-date = 10 November 2012 }}</ref>

==Electrification==
The Asansol–Purulia, Purulia–Chakradharpur, Kandra–Gamharria and Sini–Adityapur sectors were electrified in 1961–62. The Tatanagar–Kharagpur sector was electrified in 1962–63.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html| title= History of Electrification | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 24 April 2013}}</ref>
The Tatanagar-Gorumahisani-Aunlajori sector of the Tatanagar-Gorumahisani-Aunlajori-Badampahar line was electrified in 2020-21.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.uniindia.com/electrification-work-in-full-swing-in-tatanagar-badampahar-section/east/news/2333106.html}}</ref>

==Passenger movement==
{{stnlnk|Asansol}}, {{stnlnk|Adra}}, {{stnlnk|Tatanagar}} and {{stnlnk|Kharagpur}}, on this line, are the main booking stations of Indian Railway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |title=Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry |work=Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways |publisher=IRFCA |access-date=30 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510115649/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |archive-date=10 May 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Paschim Bardhaman topics}}
{{Purulia topics}}
{{Kolhan Division topics}}
{{Paschim Medinipur topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asansol - Tatanagar - Kharagpur line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Adra railway division|*]]
[[Category:Chakradharpur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Kharagpur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Transport in Asansol]]
[[Category:Transport in Jamshedpur]]
[[Category:Transport in Kharagpur]]